Caitlin specializes in sharing the good word of healthy living and making the world a better place. She is humanely treated, non-GMO, and free to roam in a low-stress environment similar to her natural habitat. When not wordsmithing for Naturepedic, Caitlin enjoys pondering the possibility of time travel and superpowers, wearing Converse with dresses, haggling for organic cauliflower at West Side Market in Cleveland, and sending over-involved emoji iMessages. Caitlin comes from an educational background including a Master’s of Education in Higher Education Administration from Kent State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Wilmington College. Despite never anticipating a career in marketing, she feels right at home with Naturepedic and is thrilled to spread the word of safe, healthy sleep and natural living.

It’s back to school season and you’re probably hitting the sales to equip your kids with everything on their supply lists. Keeping things organic may not have even crossed your mind, but there are organic and eco-friendly solutions for school supply shopping too! We’re highlighting Earth-friendly brands and products that your kids (and you) will love. Backpacks and Lunch Bags Organic backpacks and bookbags are available if you know where to look! Just like in mattresses and clothing, textile products like backpacks can contain harsh pesticides, vinyl, phthalates, lead, and other questionable chemicals. When your child uses a product every day, it’s a savvy decision to find a non-toxic solution without those potential hazards. For little ones, we love EcoGear’s Ecozoo Organic Backpack, available in four cute animal designs: Panda, Pig, Elephant, and Puppy. Made from organic cotton with recycled plastic and sustainable wood components, it’s perfect for preschool or early school aged children. We also like the Rawganique organic[…]

Dale “Sebastian” Luckwitz is Sustainability Officer at Naturepedic. His mission is to help Naturepedic expand its positive impact beyond numerous product benefits into a wider lifecycle approach. To this end, Dale is involved in strengthening collaborations and uncovering new ways to make business greener and more efficient. He is also a vocal advocate for Naturepedic and loves talking organic mattresses whenever possible.

In addition to saving the planet, Dale likes reading, music, cooking, antiques, more music, and playing with his kids. He also is an avid movie watcher whose guilty pleasure is old black and white monster movies.

Dale holds a Master’s Degree in Teaching and Learning with Technology.

The entertainment industry, from music to movies to original programming delivered on cable, network and new media platforms, holds influence on how people view their world. Understanding how media shapes opinions, in 1989 entertainment executive Alan Horn and wife Cindy, along with iconic writer and producer Norman Lear (yes, that Norman Lear of All in the Family, The Jeffersons, One Day At A Time, and more) and wife Lyn founded the Environmental Media Association (EMA). The EMA leverages the considerable power of the entertainment industry to affect environmental change. This change is not just within the industry through the encouragement of more responsible production methods, but also with the general public by using celebrity power to educate and inform. The EMA even works with writers and directors to help integrate responsible environmental messaging into movies and television. As part of the EMA’s ongoing dedication to promote a healthier planet with healthier people, the organization launched the EMA Healthy Family Seal.[…]

Caitlin specializes in sharing the good word of healthy living and making the world a better place. She is humanely treated, non-GMO, and free to roam in a low-stress environment similar to her natural habitat. When not wordsmithing for Naturepedic, Caitlin enjoys pondering the possibility of time travel and superpowers, wearing Converse with dresses, haggling for organic cauliflower at West Side Market in Cleveland, and sending over-involved emoji iMessages. Caitlin comes from an educational background including a Master’s of Education in Higher Education Administration from Kent State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Wilmington College. Despite never anticipating a career in marketing, she feels right at home with Naturepedic and is thrilled to spread the word of safe, healthy sleep and natural living.

June is Potty Training Awareness Month and there is no lack of conventional wisdom on the internet about the best tips and tricks to train your little one fast. But the truth is that sometimes kids just aren’t ready yet! We asked our community to share some of their favorite tips and stories about potty training to help you find a solution for your own potty woes. Anticipate a night and day difference. Naturepedic’s own Hilary T. starts us out with her experience. “My son was potty trained during the day almost two full years before he was night trained. I learned that night training is completely different than day training, and I didn’t stress when his body just wasn’t ready.” Each child is different. Community member Lura B. potty trained five kids who all responded differently! After a mix of self-training, rewards, and the naked (no diaper) method, she says, “If something works for one child it doesn’t mean[…]

The Naturepedic Guest Blogger is someone who cares. They wake up in the morning and live their day consciously. From full-time mamas to brand-name CEOs - and everyone in-between—our community has one big thing in common: they care. They care about what they’re consuming and what their children are sleeping on. They know we all need to be more conscious of our environment, but they also know change takes time, and understanding. And they are here to help.

She’s not even 3 years old, but she’s already a hero. Although she may not be aware that she’s saving daddy’s life, she is doing it nonetheless. Over the years, I have found ways to become increasingly stressed about everything. Always having something to do, thinking ahead and worrying about what’s to come, getting mad at minute details, etc. I’m Guilty. Yes, with a capital “G”! My wife always gives the best support a husband could ask for over the years, and she keeps me from going berserk….usually. Now, thanks to our daughter, she has reinforcements. I shared about the long journey of having our daughter and how stress was a major factor in the issues we faced. It sucked, I was miserable, and so was everyone around me. I never considered that stressing so much could be such a powerful and dangerous force, but now I have learned it can be deadly. This is beyond scary! Something that many[…]

The Naturepedic Guest Blogger is someone who cares. They wake up in the morning and live their day consciously. From full-time mamas to brand-name CEOs - and everyone in-between—our community has one big thing in common: they care. They care about what they’re consuming and what their children are sleeping on. They know we all need to be more conscious of our environment, but they also know change takes time, and understanding. And they are here to help.

Allyson Downey’s weeSpring is the online version of that proverbial village it takes to raise a child. Countless moms- and dads-to-be use the website to curate advice and reviews from parents who have been there before. Driven by the desire for no woman to go it alone, Allyson is launching a book to help new moms navigate the interwoven paths of career advancement and motherhood. Naturepedic is proud to sponsor the book tour for “Here’s the Plan: Your Practical, Tactical Guide to Advancing Your Career During Pregnancy and Parenthood.” We caught up with Allyson to ask her some questions about her upcoming book, and ten lucky readers will receive a free copy! Read the giveaway details after the Q&A. 1. What inspired you to write “Here’s the Plan”? When I was pregnant with my first child, I found myself completely sidelined at work–and I was the last person I would have ever expected to experience that. I was tough, I[…]

The Naturepedic Guest Blogger is someone who cares. They wake up in the morning and live their day consciously. From full-time mamas to brand-name CEOs - and everyone in-between—our community has one big thing in common: they care. They care about what they’re consuming and what their children are sleeping on. They know we all need to be more conscious of our environment, but they also know change takes time, and understanding. And they are here to help.

Feeling sleep deprived? Whether you’re adjusting to a new baby or fighting off sleep regression with a toddler, trying to parent in a sleep deprived state can make things feel even worse. That’s why helping your baby into good sleep habits is important for the whole troop. There is a huge amount of advice out there for new parents with regards to baby sleep, but chances are you’re too tired to wade through it all right now. To make it easy, we’ve partnered with sleep expert Rebecca Michi to bring you five simple tips to help your baby on their way to a good night’s sleep. We’re ready to tackle National Sleep Awareness Week. Bring it on! 1. Location, location, location. When your baby naps during the day, let them do so in their crib, bassinet, or wherever you’d like them to be sleeping at night. This helps your baby associate their bed with sleep and give them a better[…]

The Naturepedic Guest Blogger is someone who cares. They wake up in the morning and live their day consciously. From full-time mamas to brand-name CEOs - and everyone in-between—our community has one big thing in common: they care. They care about what they’re consuming and what their children are sleeping on. They know we all need to be more conscious of our environment, but they also know change takes time, and understanding. And they are here to help.

My son, Carson, turned two in June. He’s never been a good sleeper. Ever. The best sleep I’ve had in the last two years was at a hotel on a business trip. It was glorious. So we’ve struggled with him since day one but when we hit the two year mark, there were suddenly all these new questions to ask yourself like, “when should we start potty training?” and “when do we move him to a big boy bed?” My mom friends, insisted that, “there’s no right time. He’ll let you know when he’s ready.” But I’m not so sure. He’s been using the potty at school successfully since they moved him to the 2-3 year old class in June but he hasn’t once done it at home. And the big boy bed… well. We decided to take the plunge last weekend. He has one of those convertible cribs that turns into a toddler bed and then a full size[…]

The Naturepedic Guest Blogger is someone who cares. They wake up in the morning and live their day consciously. From full-time mamas to brand-name CEOs - and everyone in-between—our community has one big thing in common: they care. They care about what they’re consuming and what their children are sleeping on. They know we all need to be more conscious of our environment, but they also know change takes time, and understanding. And they are here to help.

My household is officially diaper free. After eight-and-a-half years. My husband and I are going to drink to our diaper-free status tonight (always looking for a solid reason to open a nice bottle of bubbles). Because here’s the thing: even though diaper extinction is a normal and inevitable milestone for every family, it calls on some of the most evasive parenting skills—patience, persistence, consistency . . . did I mention patience? Both of my kids transitioned to daytime undies more or less when kids are expected to be in undies—somewhere around 2-3 years of age. Then there was the absurd stage (for both of them) of putting on their own pull-ups and hiding in corners and closets to do their #2 business. (The developmental experts at Seedlings Group got me through those good times.) But the real struggle was nighttime. I had been told that I would know when my child was ready to sleep in underwear when she woke[…]

The Naturepedic Guest Blogger is someone who cares. They wake up in the morning and live their day consciously. From full-time mamas to brand-name CEOs - and everyone in-between—our community has one big thing in common: they care. They care about what they’re consuming and what their children are sleeping on. They know we all need to be more conscious of our environment, but they also know change takes time, and understanding. And they are here to help.

We asked Rachel Blumenthal, Founder and CEO of Cricket’s Circle a few questions about her experience transitioning her toddler to a big kid bed: 1. Tell us a little about yourself and your big kid. “My son is almost 4 1/2 and we transitioned to a big kid bed when he was 3 1/2. We were moving to a new home so we decided to wait and transition him with the move.” 2. What cues did your toddler give you to let you know they were ready for a big kid bed? “He had already climbed out of the crib a few times and was well beyond crib age.” 3. What was the most important thing you were looking for when you started researching big kid beds? “We wanted a bed that he could grow into – both in size and style. I believe in investing in furniture that grows with your children – a large dresser that can double[…]

The Naturepedic Guest Blogger is someone who cares. They wake up in the morning and live their day consciously. From full-time mamas to brand-name CEOs - and everyone in-between—our community has one big thing in common: they care. They care about what they’re consuming and what their children are sleeping on. They know we all need to be more conscious of our environment, but they also know change takes time, and understanding. And they are here to help.

If you’re like many parents who choose to have their children close together in age, one thing you may need to plan for is where your toddler will sleep when baby arrives. Here are some tips to keep in mind when planning for this transition. Don’t Take On Too Much I know a lot of parents that put pressure on themselves to get all the pieces in place before baby comes. They want their toddler to be potty trained, sleeping in a big kid bed (through the night nonetheless) and reach other milestones before a sibling comes. The last thing any of us need is more stress in our life (especially if you’re a pregnant mom!) Take one step at a time; don’t stress out about creating a perfect situation and know that even if your toddler seems content in the big kid bed, uses the potty like a champ, etc. – this all might very well go right out[…]